We at MeinMMO take a look at which survival games will be released in 2023 and 2024 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S or PC. These are the upcoming games to watch if you’re into survival, horror, or that extra special thrill.
In this list, we take a look at various representatives of the survival genre that are scheduled for release in 2023 and 2024. Included are multiplayer games for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, as well as exclusive titles and single-player games.
The selection is a personal assessment of the author, with promising titles or survival games with special ideas. You might also find one or the other insider tip here, which you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Where the games will ultimately rank can only be definitively said after their release. Until then, you can find the best survival games of 2022 for PlayStation, Xbox and PC here on MeinMMO.
Update from September 25, 2023: We have updated the information on all upcoming survival games. Many of the major titles have been moved to 2024. Wild West Dynasty and Sons of the Forest have already been released. Instead, we now present Coreborn, the game from German story genius Hauke Gerdes.
In our summary you can see gameplay from 5 of the biggest survival hopes of the year:
ARC 2
Developer/Publisher: Studio Wildcard | Release: 2024 | Model: probably Buy2Play | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S | Player: Multiplayer
This is ARK 2: ARK 2 continues ARK: Survival Evolved. So far, not too much is known about the game, but gameplay and content are expected to differ little from its predecessor.
The core feature of ARK is various dinosaurs that you can tame and train as farm animals. They serve as labor, mounts or even to build your base on them.
ARK is a survival game in the classic sense. You start virtually naked, have to painstakingly assemble your equipment and progress further and further. As you travel through the world, you’ll uncover secrets and backgrounds, and eventually you’ll even reach the point where you can fight with futuristic weapons and armor.
According to the first pictures, ARK 2 will be very similar to the first part. The first dinos were already visible and the world looks quite similar to the jungle-like biomes of the first part.
So hard is the survival: Basically, you have to pay attention to water, food and your life energy. At least your needs can be easily satisfied with a little search, but for fights you should equip yourself well.
Especially for encounters with big dinos or bosses you need the right equipment or support in the form of tamed dinos.
The main protection is a clan. You can play ARK with friends, build a base and a defense. You can always retreat there when you need rest.
In the video you will find everything you need to know about the predecessor ARK: Survival Evolved in 2 minutes:
That’s what we expect from the game:
- A colorful world with different biomes
- All kinds of dinos and creatures to fight and tame
- A hidden story that can be uncovered through mystery and discovery
- High replay value and years of support with DLCs and updates
When and where is the release? There is not yet a concrete date, but ARK 2 should appear in 2024. ARK 2 comes for PC and Xbox Series X|S. A release for PS4, PS5 and Xbox One is not pending for now.
You can find all information about the release of ARK 2 in our Info Hub.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Developer/Publisher: GSC Game Worlds | Release: 2024 | Model: Buy2Play | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S | Player: expected to be single player only.
This is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: The newest part of the famous S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. You find yourself in Chernobyl, several years after the disaster, after another catastrophe has created strange anomalies. Flora and fauna have mutated, Pripyat is an absolute military exclusion zone.
You’ll still wander through the area as a stalker, looking for particularly valuable “artifacts”, strange things created by the anomalies. Radiation and mutants are constant dangers that you’ll have to defy.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a first-person shooter with strong influences from survival, horror and role-playing games. The first gameplay was shown at E3 2021. More than 30 weapons with customizations are available. In a non-linear story, in which you will encounter various factions, you will have to decide the fate of the restricted zone.
So hard is survival: Hunger, sleep, injuries and radiation are the main survival elements in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, but the biggest threat to survival still remains enemies and anomalies lurking everywhere in the game’s world.
Since S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a role-playing game at its core, you probably won’t encounter any impossible challenges. Fun and story have been the focus so far, and it will probably be the same in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Survival beginners will also be happy here, even if they don’t know the other parts of the series.
That’s what we expect from the game:
- Gloomy, depressing mood
- Play with dangerous radiation and freaky mutations
- Interesting and diverse weapons
- Gripping story
- Different factions that you can collect reputation from or slaughter
- Full mod support
When and where is the release: After several postponements, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will now be released in 2024 for the PC and Xbox, as a Microsoft Exclusive. At release, it is also supposed to come in the Xbox Game Pass. According to rumors, the exclusivity will only last for 3 months.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will cost between €59.99 and €109.99, depending on the version you buy.
At least there are signs of life from the studio. In January, the developers showed new images of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in Unreal Engine 5, which pleased many fans with the strong visuals.
Nightingale
Developer/Publisher: Inflexion Games | Release: February 22, 2024 | Model/Price: TBA | Platforms: PC | Player: Multiplayer
This is Nightingale: Nightingale is set in a Victorian fantasy setting, so-called “Gaslight Fantasy”. It is developed by Inflexion Games, consisting of veterans of the legendary RPG studio BioWare.
You play a world wanderer, who travels through different worlds in search of a new home for the people. Because a magical catastrophe threatens to destroy their old home.
However, these new worlds are already inhabited by wondrous fae creatures that are not necessarily friendly to you. With various tools and weapons, you’ll be able to defend yourself in order to build an outpost for humanity.
So hard is survival: We currently don’t know if there will be classic survival elements like hunger and thirst. However, since you can grow fruits and vegetables, that speaks for such mechanics.
Crafting and construction also play a big role. Thus, you’ll be able to build your own houses and settlements, cultivate fields and build defense lines against the Fae together with other players. Nightingale also offers different biomes, such as forests, swamps and deserts.
In the process, you’ll wander through various worlds that are becoming more and more dangerous. Accordingly, the biggest survival factor will probably be the enemies you’ll have to fight off. There is no PvP.
That’s what we expect from the game:
- A unique “Gaslight” setting with appropriate visuals
- Freaky fairy-like monsters as opponents
- Lots of co-op gameplay with PvE and collaborative base building
- NPC worker support
- Hopefully RPG elements that live up to the legacy of BioWare
- Complete abandonment of PvP
When and where is the release? After several postponements, Nightingale is scheduled to be released only on February 22, 2024 and then only in Early Access. If you want to check out the game, you can register for playtesting on the official site.
Return to Moria
Developer/Publisher: Free Range Games/North Beach Games | Release: October 24, 2023 | Model: expected Buy2Play | Platforms: PC (Epic Games) | Players: Multiplayer/Coop
The gameplay trailer for Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
More videos
This is Return to Moria: The new survival game is set in the official world of The Lord of the Rings. Gimli himself, one of the most famous dwarves from the famous fantasy work, sends you to the Misty Mountains to search for the lost treasures of the dwarves.
In procedurally generated environments, you’ll mine and process ores, precious metals, and other materials to fuel the dwarves’ famous blacksmithing and build stone structures for protection.
I was already absolutely thrilled by Return to Moria with the trailer, because besides beer, beards and the still quite unused dwarves as a theme, the survival game has at least one mechanic that sounds really exciting.
So hard is survival: Return to Moria offers classic survival elements such as hunger, sleep and temperature. But in addition, there is a completely new system: sounds. Because who mines rock, makes noise. And who has seen Lord of the Rings, knows where that can end.
For everyone else: Moria is overrun with orcs, which you can attract by making loud noises. Tip: Do not throw skeletons into wells. One of the biggest dangers in the mines of Moria is the Balrog, a giant flame demon.
We don’t know yet if he will also appear in Return to Moria. But it would be exciting. Here you can find more information about the game:
More on the topic
New “Lord of the Rings” game lets dwarves fight for survival: Looks terrific at gamescom
by Benedict Grothaus
That’s what we expect from the game:
- A detailed dwarf-style building and crafting system
- High customizability for your own individual dwarf
- Co-op with up to 8 players in a group
- Many allusions to the Lord of the Rings like the magical sword “Sting” that glows when orcs are around
When and where is the release? Return to Moria is scheduled for release on October 24, 2023 for the PC in the Epic Games Store. A console version is not planned at the moment.